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Unitarian Universalist

Fellowship of Athens

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What’s Up with the Board – May 2022

At the May 15 annual meeting Board members joined with the congregation in celebrating the election of volunteers to serve on the Board (Marguerite Holmes, Jane Mayer, Penny Oldfather, and Susie Weller), the Committee on Shared Ministry (Ynza Morganstar and Terri Ray), the Endowment Committee (David Jarrett, Jane King, and Scott Mason), and the Nominating Committee (Roger Bailey and Rosemary Wood).

Led by outgoing Board President Vivian Sellers, annual meeting attendees also voted to accept the 2022-2023 budget and the Bylaws revisions and to adopt the 8th Principle.

A few days earlier the Board gathered for our monthly meeting.

We were pleased to learn from Treasurer Lyndall Tunnell that 2022-2023 pledges had reached a level to cover Cost of Living increases for staff members and part of the moving expenses of Rev. Pippin Whitaker. New or increased pledges are still welcome, either through Realm or by contacting the office. Lyndall also mentioned that, with the end of the 2021-2022 pledge year near, the Fellowship is 6 percent behind in pledges for the year. Those donations are needed to end the year in a positive way.

Clela Reed and Sarah Cook shared a simplified, user-friendly pandemic response phase chart which was recommended by the Gathering Anew Task Force and the Medical Advisory Panel. The revised guidelines reflect changes in how the CDC tracks Covid. The chart is in effect now.

Rev. Lisa introduced trauma-informed ministry, noting that, “We can’t respect other people’s boundaries if we don’t know what those boundaries are.” The colored stickers to let people indicate their levels of comfort with physical contact were introduced during the May 8 Sunday service.

Vivian updated us on plans for recognizing Shaye Gambrell and her 20 years of service following the May 22 service. We are all looking forward to thanking Shaye for her commitment to the Fellowship.

It’s not too late to serve as an on-site or virtual delegate to the June 22-26 General Assembly in Portland, OR. Please contact Iva King to sign on before the June 14 Board meeting. To register for GA visit https://www.uua.org/ga/registration.

We welcome members to the monthly Board meetings.  Next up: June 14. For access to the virtual meeting, contact Karen Solheim at uufa.secretary@gmail.com.

Happenings in a List!

For details on non-regularly recurring special events, in bold italic below, check out the “Highlights” of “This Month & Beyond” (either on the left of this page or here). 

For recurring committee/team meeting details, check the “Let’s Get Together” section of “This Month & Beyond,” and make sure to join your groups on Realm/Connect, so you will receive updates, and reminders directly to your inbox and have easy access to zoom links for virtual happenings. 

Justice are included below and on “This Month & Beyond”, but to see only Justice meetings, you can find visuals announcements here & the UUFA Justice Calendar here

Need help with Realm/Connect!? Contact Meredyth@uuathensga.org

January

All Month — Winter Clothing Drive

  •  4   Abundance Table First Sundays
  •  4   Conversation Cafe First & Third Sundays
  •  4   Social Action Justice Team First Sundays
  •  4   Historical Jesus Book Discussion First & Third Sundays
  •  8   Racial Justice Team Second Thursdays
  • 11  Getting to Know You Second Sundays
  • 11  Book Talks Second Sundays
  • 13  Second Lookers Second Tuesdays
  • 13  Adult RE (Religious Exploration) Opportunity:  Are We Too Violent?
  • 15  Justice Partner event:  AADM Social Justice Awards and Gala 2026
  • 17  Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Banquet (sponsored by the Athens Area Human Relations Council), 4 p.m., Classic Center.
  • 18  Forum: A River Runs Through It: The Oconee River Land Trust Third Sundays
  • 18  Conversation Cafe First & Third Sundays
  • 18  Hiking Our Values
  • 18  Historical Jesus Book Discussion First & Third Sundays
  • 18  Singing Meditation
  • 18  Poster making for the MLK Day Parade
  • 18  Hiking Our Values
  • 19  MLK Day Parade (3 p.m., Washington & Hull)
  • 24  West African Drum Workshop
  • 25  Worship Transformation- An Invitation for Spiritual Stewards of the Congregation
  • 25  Alphabet Family Fourth Sundays
  • 26  Earth Ministry Team Fourth Mondays
  • 27  Adult RE (Religious Exploration) Opportunity: Are We Too Violent?
  • 29  Hiking Our Values

Scroll on for future months. 

Share the Plate Cause of the Month

Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement (AADM)

The Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement (AADM) is the December Share-the-Plate Cause of the Month.

During January, this organization will receive one half of all undesignated offerings.

The Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement (AADM) i s a grassroots organization that advocates against systemic discrimination and racial injustices through education, advocacy, and direct action.

From the 2025-26 program year (July 1 through June 30),  $12,854.53 has been given to five different Share-the-Plate Cause of the Month organizations because of the generosity of members and friends of UUFA.  Thank you.

January CANtributions

You can help with food insecurity in our community. Bring non-perishable food items to be donated to the Athens Area Emergency Food Bank (AAEFB) on Sunday mornings. Special requests for January are pork and beans, saltines, and rice (one-pound bags)

Want to contribute financially?  Visit uuathensga.org/give and look for “Charitable Giving”. To give by check:  Make the check out to UUFA and put “CANtributions 1-8016” in the memo line. You may also contribute to the Athens Area Emergency Foodbank directly through their website: athensfoodbank.org. For further information:  justice@uuathensga.org. 

If you are experiencing food insecurity or know someone in our UUFA community who is, please contact Rev. Pippin (revpippin@uuathensga.org).

UUFA Justice Partner Highlights

You are encouraged to visit the websites of this year’s Justice Partners to learn more about how you can support them in their important work in the Athens community. While you’re there, sign up for their individual newsletters so you can stay informed. 

Here are highlights of some of their activities in January:

AADM Hosts Social Justice Awards and Gala 2026

The Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement (AADM), a UUFA Justice Partner, invites everyone to their Social Justice Awards and Gala 2026 on January 15 from 6 to 9 pm at Hotel Indigo to honor the organization’s past, uplift today’s champions, and build momentum for the next generation of justice leaders. For ticket and other information, click https://www.aadmovement.org/events/39584 

Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Banquet 

The 47th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Banquet, hosted by the Athens Area Human Relations Council, will be held on January 17 beginning at 4 pm at the Classic Center. For more information about this event for which the UUFA Social Justice Action Team is a sponsor, visit www.humanrelationscouncil.org/mlk-awards-banquet.

AADM Celebrates MLK Jr Day with a Parade and Music Fest

Join the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement on January 19 from noon to 6:00 pm for their 10th Annual Athens MLK Jr. Parade & Music Fest as the streets of downtown Athens come alive with one of the largest gatherings of unity, music, and cultural pride in Northeast Georgia. For details click https://givebutter.com/athensmlkparade2026 AADM is the Fellowship’s January Cause of the Month.

Looking Ahead

February 

  •   1  Abundance Table First Sundays
  •   1  Conversation Cafe First & Third Sundays
  •   1  Social Action Justice Team First Sundays
  •   1  Historical Jesus Book Discussion First & Third Sundays
  •   7  Lead with Love (UUA Virtual Only)
  •   8  Nominations Open for 2026-27 Share the Plate Cause-of-the Month Organizations
  •   8  Getting to Know You Second Sundays
  •   8  Book Talks Second Sundays
  • 10  Second Lookers Second Tuesdays
  • 10  Adult RE (Religious Exploration) Opportunity:  Are We Too Violent?
  • 12  Racial Justice Team Second Thursdays
  • 15  Conversation Cafe First & Third Sundays
  • 15  Historical Jesus Book Discussion First & Third Sundays
  • 19  Board of Trustees Meeting Third Thursdays
  • 22  Nominations Close for 2026-27 Share the Plate Cause-of-the Month Organizations
  • 23  Earth Ministry Team Fourth Mondays

March

Diaper Drive All Month

  •   1   Abundance Table First Sundays
  •   1   Conversation Cafe First & Third Sundays
  •   1   Social Action Justice Team First Sundays
  •  1  Historical Jesus Book Discussion First & Third Sundays
  •   8   Singing Meditation
  •   8   Getting to Know UUFA Second Sundays
  •   8   Book Talks Second Sundays
  • 10   Second Lookers Second Tuesdays
  • 11   Simple Suppers Second Wednesdays
  • 12   Racial Justice Team Second Thursdays
  • 15   Conversation Cafe First & Third Sundays
  • 15   Historical Jesus Book Discussion First & Third Sundays
  • 19   Board of Trustees Meeting Third Thursdays
  • 22   Worship Transformation- An Invitation for Spiritual Stewards of the Congregation
  • 22   Alphabet Family Fourth Sundays
  • 23   Earth Ministry Team  Fourth Mondays
  • 29   Justice Action Collaborative Fifth Sundays

Rather see this as a calendar grid?  Visit uuathensga.org/calendar.